Electrical horology



Oct. 6, 1931. J. GEISSLINGER 1,826,056

ELECTRICAL HOROLOGY Filed Dec. 21, 1928 [v7/a im:

llllllll MMA M- INVENTOR wlTlfJEssEs Jazz cz'sslzzzyer 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1931 recante UNITED s'rerlisv PATENT orFIcE JEAN GEISSLINGER, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MSNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ARTHUR K. KEMPTON, GF JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK ELECTRICAL HOROLOGY This invention relates to electrical horology.

It is among the objects ofthe present invention to provide a novel and improved clock Which .is adaptedto be automatically l" Wound at predetermined intervals ot' time through electrical means. 1 i

A tiirther object' othe'present invention is to provide in combination With, av clock train, a solenoid for eifecting a torque on the i coil spring for driving the train. o

Y A further object of the present invention is to provide in combination `With a` clock train, a solenoid, and means for periodically enerl gizing said solenoid to effect a spring to drive the train, said solenoid -being operable,

through a novel'circuit make and break device associated With the train, for predetermined periodical energization. lith these and other objects of the present invention in View, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a clock embodying one form of my 'present invention; Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of a driving structure shown in Fig. 1, and Y Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of'Fig. 2. f

Referring moreparticularly. to the drawings, there is by Way of illustration shown a suitable clock frame 10, Within Which the usual clock train includingthe. master gear '11, spring 12 and escapement V13, is mounted, suitably supported by the conventional frame It Willbe understood that the present invention is coniined to the driving mechanism and that it may be applied to vvarious forms of Watches, and clocks, Which are not of the Y 4,0 general type herein illustrated.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection With clocks on motor vehiclcs,'in which it is desired to automatically energize the clock train Without the neces.-

sity of periodic Winding. Associated with the main gear 11, a driving gear 15 is provided, mounted for rotation With an axle 16, the lower end'of which is journaledinthe lower plate 14, While the .upper end is journale'd in an arm 17 associated with the upper is freely rotatable about'the aXle16.

Y plate 14. F or urging revolution of the gear 15 to drive the master gear l11, a spirally coiled `spring 1S is provided its inner v,end beingreceived ythrough an .aperture in the gear. 15 and thus .Y iiXed ,theretol While' its upper end is fixed toa ratchet Wheel 19 Which I y p K Cooperative with the ratchet Wheel 19, is a paWl 21 Which is mounted upon the extremity of an arn'iature associated with a solenoid 23. V,The pawl., 21 is preferably pivotally mounted in a. bifurcated portiony ofthe farmature 22, and a sprin'gv2el is` provided for normally urging the pawl 21 against the teeth of the ratchet Wheel; 19. The arrangement is suchV thatl upon -encrgization of rthe solenoid 23,fthe armature is draivninwardly, so ythat the lpaWl 21V engages oneot the rteeth of thev ratchet Wheel f19 Yand moves it through a fraction of aA revolution, whereby the spring 18 is brought under tension so as tov urgerotation upon the gear 15. Reverse rotation of the ratchet Wheel A19, is prevented by a yieldable stop tongue '25 mounted as at 26. The tongue 25Y is preferably'of semi-flexible material, its extremityjbeingV adapted to en# gage oneof the teeth of the, ratchet Wheel .19

to prevent reverserotation thereof. a

. For ,controllingV the energi'zation of the ysolenoid 23, a rvheel27 is provided, which is loosely mountedfupon vthe extremity of, the hub sleeve 20ctI the ratchet'wheel vv19, its periphery vbeing provided With spaced contact teeth 28 which are adapted to intermittently engage With a yieldable conducting finger 29, the latter being insulated from the casing 10 and beingconnected througha conductor 30, as-shownpin Fig. 2, with thewindings of the solenoid. The electrical circuit is completed throughaba-ttery 31 and conductor 32, Which isfv grounded Lto the kcasing 10, Wherebythe .electrical -current passes through'the Wheel 27 and its contact ,teeth 42,8.

- Operative, rotation 'of the -Wheel 27, to `carry the contact 4teeth 2 8', thereof into and `out yotcircuit closing engagement .with the .y

conducting fingers 29, is produced through theagen'cy Vrof alternating drive devices, one

'otwhich is actuated by the spring driven axle-16j, whereby the Wheel 27y is. moved to carry a cont-act tooth 28 into circuit engagement wit-li the fin er 29, and the other of which is actuated y the ratchet wheel 19, whereby the Wheel 27 is moved to carry an engaging contact tooth 28 out of circuit closing contact with the finger these drive devices comprises an arm 38 fixed to and rotated with the axle 16 so as to engage a driven pin 37 which projects from the wheel 27, and the other drive deviceicomprises a slot 34 with which said wheel 27 is provided and into which operatively projects a drive pin 33 ca-rriediby said ratchet wheel 19.

In the operation of the mechanism, While the spring 18 is under tension and driving the Vgevar'l, the contact finger 29 is in spaced or separatedrelation to the adjacent projecting Contact teeth 28 ofthe wheel 27. As the gear 15 turns, turningwith it the axle 16, the

arm 38` is 4moved whereby the trailing side of its bifurcated extremity en ages the pin'37, thereby advancing the `vvhee 27 so that a contact tooth l28 is brought into circuit closing engagement withthe finger 29, at which time electrical energy is transmitted through the thus closedAelect-rical circuit to the solenoid to energize the same. The circuit closing movement ofthe wheel 27 takes 'place 'while the ratchet wheel 19ol and,` its driveV pin 33 remain stationary, the slot 34 in said wheel 27 allowing play for the initial circuit closing movement of the latter relative to said` stationarydrive pin 33. When the4 circuit is closed in the manner'described,energization of the solenoid swings forward the armature 22, thereby carrying the pawl 21 into advancing relation to the ratchet wheel 19. The rotative movement thus imparted to the ratchet wheel `19 again EWinds. thespring 18 to restore its expended tensional torque. As the ratchet Wheel 19 advances, the drive pin 33 is first advanced to abut the forward end of the slot 34` in the wheel whereby the com `letion ofthe advancing'movem'entpof the rate k et Wheel 19 `will likevvise impart a second advancing movement to the wheel 27 which operates to move the finger engaging contact tooth beyond and clear of the finger 29, so that `the solenoid circuit in interrupted and thesolenoid.deenergized 0n completion of .the ,sprinfv winding movement Lof the ratchet ,Wheel` flie circuitbreaking advance of the wheel 27 moves therdri'ven pin 37 beyondthe arm 38,.so that the spring driven movement of the clock-train is freely "exercised until during such movement said arm 38 again engages and advancesthe driven pin 37, Whereiipon the above described operations are repeated and continue thereafter to be successively repeated.,

For preventing accidental rotation "of the wheels 2,7, a spring arm 39 is provided, which bears against the face of the Wheel in sucha manner as to normally retain it against rota- 29. The first of' tion other than that induced by the pins 37 or 33.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that my invention provides a simple and etficient structure which by the provision of 7 intermittent restoration ofthe tensional energy of the spring 18, provides for a constant or uninterrupted driving of the clock train.

4It will be ui'iderstoodthat the structure may be arranged'to intermittently energize the solenoid 23 over any desired periods of time, it being preferable to use approximately one-half minute intervals whereby undue tensional relaxation of the spring 18 is avoided, and thus uniformoperation may be attained and accurate time keeping main` tained by the instrument.'

It will also be seen that through the instrument including the finger 29, vthe device is particularly adapted Jfor usein connection with motor vehicles, the arrangement being such that vibration of the vehicle will not affect the operation of the device and vary the time kept thereby.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In mechanism of the kind described, a driving gear having an axle rotatablethercwith, tensional spring means for transmittingtorque to said gear and axle, and means for intermittently restoring expended tension of said'f'spring, said `latter means comprising a'ratchet wheel connected with the winding end of said spring, an electromagnetic element having-'a movable armature, a pawl carried by `-saidfarmature to operatively engage; said ratchet wheel,` an clectiic circuit for said element, a circuit` make and break means including a rotatable contact means and'a stationary contact means, means actuated by said axle for moving said rotatable contact means into `circuit closing relation to said stationary Contact means, 4and means actuated by saidratchetwvhcel for moving said rotatable 'contact means into circuit breaking relationto saidistationary contact means.

2. In mechanism of the kind described, a driving gearhaving an axle rotatable therewith, tensional'spring means for `transmitting torque to said gear and axle, and means for intermittently restoring'expended tension O said spring, said latter means coniprising a ratchet wheel connected with the winding end of said spring, an electro magnetic element having a movable armature, a

`pavvl carried by said armature to operatively engage said ratchet Wheel, an electric circuit for said clement, a circuit make and break means including a stationary contact finger,

and acontact Wheel having pcripherally proy jecting contact teeth, means actuated by said axlefor' advancing said wheel to carry a 1- contact tooth thereof into circuit closing cnigagementhvithsaid contact finger, and means` actuated by said ratchet wheel for further advancing said wheel to disengage said contact tooth from said contact finger.

3. In mechanism of the kind described, a driving gear having an axle rotatable therewith, tensional spring means tor transmitting' torque to said gear and axle, and means :tor intermittently restoring expended tension ot said spring, said latter means comprising a ratchet wheel connected with the winding end of said spring, an electromagnetic element having a movable armature, a pawl carried by said armature to operatively engage said ratchet wheel, an electric circuit tor said element, a circuit make and break means including a stationary contact linger and a contact wheel having peripherally projecting contact teeth, means actuated by said axle for advancing said wneel to carry a Contact tooth thereof into circuit closing engagement with said contact linger, means actuated by said ratchet wheel for further advancing said wheel to disengage said contact tooth from said contact iinger, and yieldable detent means tor retaining said wheel against overthrow.

4. 1n mechanism ot the kind described, a driving gear having an axle rotatable therewith, tensional spring means for transmitting torque to said gear and axle, and means for intermittently restoring expended tension ot said spring, said latter means comprising a ratchet wheel connected with the winding end of said spring, an electromagnetic element having a movable armature, a pawl carried by said armature to operatively engage said ratchet wheel, an electric circuit for said element, a circuit make and break means including a` stationary contact finger and a contact wheel having peripherally projecting contact teeth, said contact wheel having a driven pin, an arm fixed to and rotated by said axle to engage said driven pin to advance said contact wheel to circuit closing position, and a pin and slot connection between said Contact wheel and ratchet wheel to advance the former to circuit interrupting position.

5. ln mechanism oi the kind described, a driving gear having an axle rotatable therewith, tensional spring means for transmitting torque to said gear and axle, and means for intermittently restoring expended tension ot said spring, said latter means comprising a ratchet wheel connected with the winding end ot' said spring, an electromagnetic element having a movable armature, a pawl carried by said armature to operatively engage said ratchet wheel, an electric circuit for said element, a circuit make and break means including a stationary contact finger, and a contact wheel having peripherally projecting contact teeth, said contact wheel havinga driven pin, an arm fixed to and rotated by said axle to engage said driven pin to advance said contact wheel to circuit closing position, a pin and slot connection between said contact wheel and ratchet wheel to advance the former to circuit interrupting position, and yieldable detent means for retaining said contact wheel against overthrow.

6. In a power spring winding mechanism, means connected with one end of said spring so as to be actuated by the tensional torque thereof, winding means connected with the opposite end of said spring to restore its eX- pended tensional energy, electro-magnetic means for actuating said winding means, an electric circuit for said latter mea-ns including a make and break means, said make and break means comprising a movable contact and a stationary contact, means actuated by said spring driven means, to carry said movable contact into circuit closingl relation to said stationary contact, and means actuated by said winding means to carry said movable Contact into circuit interrupting relation to said stationary contact.

Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, this 19th day of December A. D. 1928.

JEAN GEISSLINGER. 

